Study on yoga as a means of coping with stress

Michiyo Nosaka, Hitoshi Okamura

June 2015

Anti-Stress & Burnout

Yoga

Hiroshima University conducted a case-control study to investigate yoga as a means of stress management.

90 school employees participated in a stress management program with an integrated yoga session that included psychological education and counseling on stress management, yoga theories and cognitive structures according to Indian philosophy, as well as the practice of asanas, pranayama and relaxation.

SUD and mood scale scores were measured, as well as GHQ28 to assess mental health.

After a single session of the program, the subjects showed a significant increase in calmness, comfort and cheerfulness and a significant decrease in physical and mental stress. The GHQ28 also revealed strong differences between the yoga and control groups.

These results suggest that yoga is effective in reducing stress and promoting mental health even after a short period of time.

The most important information on the study at a glance

Indications: Stress
Institution: Graduate School of Biomedical & Health Sciences, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima, Japan
Title: Study on yoga as a means of coping with stress
Brief description: A study shows that yoga significantly reduces stress and improves mental health after just one session.
Original title: A Single Session of an Integrated Yoga Program as a Stress Management Tool for School Employees: Comparison of Daily Practice and Nondaily Practice of a Yoga Therapy Program
Link to the study: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26069902/